DCRA Green Compliance FUNDAMENTALS
Department of Consumer and
Regulatory Affairs
The mission of the Department of Consumer
and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is to protect the
health, safety, economic interests and quality of
life of residents, businesses and visitors in the
District of Columbia by ensuring code
compliance and regulating business.
Green Building Division Regulations of green codes including:
• Green Building Act
• Green Construction Code
• Energy Conservation Code
Operates within the structure of DCRA’s
permitting and inspections groups, with work
including reviews of construction documents,
conducting building inspections, and
collaborating with the community to further the
efforts to build a more sustainable DC.
Adopted in 2006
Applies to the design, construction,
addition, alteration of buildings or
structures:
Publicly funded (10,000 sqft+)
Privately funded (50,000 sqft+)
Green Building Act
Publicly owned or financed project:
• New Construction
• Substantial Improvement
• 10,000 sqft and above
Applicability
Compliance Paths:
• Non-Residential: LEED Silver
• Educational: LEED Gold
• Residential: Green Communities
• Mixed Use Space in Residential
Project: LEED Certified
• Tenant Fit Out: LEED Certified
Privately owned or financed project:
• New Construction
• Substantial Improvement
• 50,000 sqft and above
Applicability
Compliance Paths:
• Non-Residential: LEED Certified
• Educational: LEED Gold
• Mixed Use Space in Residential
Project: LEED Certified
• Residential: No requirements
• New Construction & Major Renovations
• Commercial Interiors
• Core & Shell
• Healthcare
• Retail: Commercial Interiors
• Retail: New Construction & Major Renovations
• Schools
LEED Standards
30% more energy efficient through
increased requirements for air sealing,
insulation levels, and building systems
Has two separate divisions
Commercial
Residential
Energy Conservation Code
Intent Set minimum levels of thermal
performance for all components of
the building envelope to reduce
heat gains and losses across all
climate zones.
Key Requirements
• Insulation and Fenestration
• Roof Solar Reflectance
• Air Leakage
Intent Provide guidelines for effective
energy performance of mechanical
systems regardless of the type used
(simple or complex) through right
sizing and controls.
Key Requirements
• Calculation of heating and cooling
loads
• Equipment and System Sizing
• System Controls
• Ventilation
Intent Employ basic, cost-effective design
practices to reduce energy used by
minimizing both heat and water
losses over the system.
Key Requirements
• Performance Efficiency
• Temperature Controls
• Heat Traps
• Pipe Insulation
• System Controls
Intent Reduce consumption and improve
lighting conditions through efficient
lighting products. Reduce heat
added to spaces that must be
removed by air conditioning.
Key Requirements
• Lighting Controls
• Interior lighting power
• Exterior lighting
• Electrical Energy Consumption
Intent Provide flexibility to achieve energy
savings needed to meet the overall
energy savings goals.
Key Requirements
• HVAC
• Lighting
• On site renewable energy
Intent Offer maximum flexibility and give
credit to innovative solutions for
building designs to meet the energy
goals
Key Requirements
• Mandatory:
• Air leakage
• Mechanical Systems
• Water heating
• Lighting
• Performance
Key Requirements
• Triggered through compliance with
IgCC
• New Construction
• Level 3 Alterations
• Level 1 and 2 Alterations over 50,000
sqft
Green Construction Code
Applies to the construction, addition, alteration,
repair, razing, demolition of buildings/structures:
Non-residential (10,000 sqft+)
Multifamily residential 4 stories and larger
(10,000 sqft+)
Demolition/Raze (10,000 sqft+)
Site Work (10,000 sqft+)
Intent Address actions related to limiting
the negative effects of building on
a site, as well as protecting,
restoring and enhancing the natural
features of the building site and the
surrounding environment.
Key Requirements
• Native and Invasive species
• Site Waste Management
• Heat Island Mitigation
• Site lighting
Appendix A • Wildlife corridor
• Infill site selection
• Brownfield site
selection
• Site restoration
• Mixed use
development
• Changing and
Shower Facilities
• Long Term bicycle
parking and storage
• Heat island (75-100%
compliant)
• Green Roof covering
• Native planting (75-
100% compliant)
• Electric Vehicle
Charging
Intent
Mitigate the impact of building
materials through their lifecycle
including extraction, manufacture
and disposal through provisions
related to material selection,
recycling, reuse, renewability, toxicity,
durability, and resistance to damage.
Key Requirements
• Construction Material Management
• Construction Waste Management
• Material Selection (50,000 sqft +)
• Lamps
• Building Moisture Control
Appendix A
• Waste management (70% compliance)
• Landfill maximum (4 lbs/sqft)
• Material Selection (50-75% compliance)
• Building service life plan
• Design for deconstruction
• Existing building reuse
• Historic building reuse
Intent
Reduce the use of energy in buildings and
on building sites through design,
construction, commissioning and
operation by including energy metering,
selecting efficient equipment, including
renewable systems and properly
commissioning the project to achieve its
energy goals.
Key Requirements
• Prescriptive Performance Pathway
• Modeled Performance Pathway
• Energy Metering, Monitoring and Reporting
• Automated Demand Response Infrastructure
• Appliances and Equipment
• Energy Systems Commissioning and
Completion
Key Requirements
• Energy Metering, Monitoring and
Reporting
• All New Construction
• Complete Electrical System
Replacement
• Except Group R Occupancies
Key Requirements
• Automated Demand Response
Infrastructure
• All New Construction
• Complete Electrical System
Replacement
• Except Group R Occupancies
Key Requirements
• Energy Systems Commissioning
• All New Construction
• All Level 3 Alterations
• Level 1 and 2 Alterations over
50,000 sqft
Appendix A
• zEPI reduction
• Mechanical systems
increased efficiency
• Service water
heating increased
efficiency
• Lighting system
increased efficiency
• Passive design
• Renewable energy
systems
• Green power
purchasing
• Energy display
• Permanent Shading
devices
Intent
Protect the potable water supply as a
raw material that is viewed as a
precious commodity by reducing the
amount of water used in buildings,
and providing paths to reclaim and
reuse water in a safe and effective
way.
Key Requirements
• Fixtures, Fitting, Equipment and
Appliances
• HVAC Systems and Equipment
• Water Treatment Devices and
Equipment
• Metering
Appendix A
• Onsite waste water
treatment
• Nonpotable water for
outdoor hose
connections
• Nonpotable water for
plumbing fixture
flushing
• Nonpotable water for
industrial process
make up
• Nonpotable water for
cooling tower make
up
• Grey water collection
Intent Focus on the essential elements of what makes an indoor space occupiable by providing good indoor air quality, thermal comfort, noise control, and natural lighting. These items of a building focus on human comfort, productivity and overall satisfaction of users.
Key Requirements
• Building Construction Features,
Operations, and Maintenance
• HVAC Systems
• Prohibited Materials
• Material Emissions and Pollutant Control
Appendix A
• No VOC Flooring
materials
• No VOC ceiling
materials
• No VOC wall
materials
• Total VOC limit
• Views to the exterior
(50-75% compliance)
• Daylighting
• Post Construction IAQ
testing
• Post Construction
flush out
Intent Commissioning of a project is used to assist and encourage building owners and facility managers to operate and maintain buildings at a performance level that was originally intended by design professionals. Requirement for commissioning provide independent verification that all systems of a project are installed and operating correctly.
Key Requirements
• Completed by a registered design
professional or other approved agencies
• Preliminary report due before final inspection
• Final report due within 180 days of CoO
issuance
Key Requirements
• Required for projects with new equipment and
systems or total replacements
• All New Construction
• All Level 3 Alterations
• Level 1 and 2 Alterations over 50,000 sqft
Design Permit Inspection C of O Post
Occupancy
Determine Applicability
• Determine all compliance paths
• GBA – LEED or Green Communities
• GCC – GCC (and Energy prescriptive or
performance), LEED, 189.1, EGC, NGBS
• ECC – ECC (prescriptive or
performance), 90.1 (prescriptive or
performance)
Preliminary Design Review Meetings
• Meeting to review plans for code
compliance prior to permit submission
• Fee for projects
• Scheduled months in advance
• 90 minutes
• PDRM Coordinator: Ms. Toni Taylor,
Green Review Meetings
• Meeting to review plans for green
compliance prior to permit submission
• Free to projects, 60 minutes with plans
• Contact [email protected]
Process
• Permit Application Online
• Intake @ 1100 4th St SW
• ProjectDox
• Review/Comment/Revise
• Issuance
Submittal Documents
• Green Building Act
• Energy Code
• Green Code
Green Building Act
• Share online account with
• Complete registration and checklist
tracking correct number of points
(LEED)
• Complete Prebuild Certification
(Enterprise)
• Energy Star Target Finder
Energy Code
• Energy Verification Sheet
• Energy Model Inputs/ Outputs
• Load Calculations
• Supplemental Documentation
• Code compliance reflected in drawings
Energy Code
Energy Code
Green Construction Code
• IgCC Energy Path
• Commissioning Plan
• Project Elective Checklist
• Credit-Specific Documentation
• Code compliance reflected in drawings
Process
• Footing/Foundation/Slab
• Framing
• MEP Rough-in
• Insulation
• MEP Final
• Building Final
Process – Third Party
• Pre-Construction
• Rough-In
• Building Final
Documentation • GBA
• financial security (private)
• GCC • Completed Site Waste Management Form
• Completed Construction Waste
Management Form
• Commissioning Acknowledgement • Preliminary Commissioning Report (if
requested)
Documentation • GBA/GCC Alternate Compliance Path
• Certification (2 yrs/180 days)
• GCC (180 days)
• Material Selection Form
• Final Commissioning Report
• Additional documentation for Project
Electives
http://dcra.dc.gov/page/green-building-program
http://buildgreenDC.org